Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3969, John Geissinger, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn.
Geissinger John
R 3969
CONTENTS

34. 167
✓ John Geissenger's Pension Papers
Revolutionary Service For Nine months Aged twenty six years
Address.
J. B. Hunsberger Esq. Huntingdon Penn a .

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832
State of Pennsylvania Huntingdon County ss..
On this 14 th day of August 1837 personally appeared before the Court of Common Pleas of said County John Weissenberger a resident of Walker Township in the County of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania aged sixty six years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he served under the following named field and company officers viz. General Armstrong, General Arnold, Major Solbwell, Col. Kirkbride, Col. Patton, Capt. Lechman Lott, Capt. Houston. That he entered the service of the United States in the year 1777 in the spring of the year 1777. in the same year that the battles of Brandywine and Germantown were fought. and served from the 17 th of May 1777. until the 17 th of November in the year 1777. making a term of six months duty. This applicant says that he was drafted out to serve in the militia of the state of Pennsylvania and says that he was drafted in the County of Bucks, Pa. That this declarant served served the said six months in said militia under the command of Capt. Lott in a Regiment of Bucks County Militia commanded by Colonel Kirkbride . That this applicant joined a company of militia of Bucks County in the State of Pennsylvania near Doylestown in Bucks Co. Pa. under the command of the said Capt. Lott of Bucks Co. Pa. and was marched on to Bristol, Pa. on the Delaware River and there stationed with other companies of soldiers. He was also stationed at Crooks Ferry that while there he saw the commander in chief General George Washington , and also Genl. Arnold came there and assumed the command of the militia forces on the Delaware river. That this applicant was afterwards during said term placed under the command of General Armstrong and was marched on towards the State of Delaware. That about this time General Washington's army had a battle with the British at Brandywine River in which this applicant and the body of militia to which he was attached were drove back towards the city of Philadelphia. That this applicant was about this time stationed under Genl. Armstrong with other militia on the Schuylkill river as a force to stop the progress of the enemy towards Phila. That this position was maintained only a short time. That after this he was stationed on the Ridge Road near Germantown where his companions had a skirmish with the British a number were wounded on both sides and the enemy left some slain on the field. That applicant after the engagements of Brandywine and Germantown was marched on to Perkiomen Creek , with the main body of the American Army and there encamped. That afterwards this applicant was marched on to a place called White Marsh . He was

also posted as a guard at Skipack Creek . While this applicant was stationed at White Marsh his duty consisted in guarding the various roads and passes about White Marsh on which the country people were secretly conveying provisions to the British in Phila. That this tour was served under Capt Lott , and was a tour of six months commencing on the 17 th day of Jany in the year of our Lord 1777. and ending on the 17 th day of November following 1777. That at the expiration of the said term of six months he was verbally discharged. And this applicant further says that he went again in the service as a drafted militiaman to serve in the militia of the County of Bucks in the State of Pennsylvania and served for a tour of three months under Capt Lott of the Bucks County Militia. That one Houston was the Lieutenant of the Company. That this applicant joined a company of militia under the command of Capt Lott who was Capt. in Col. Kirkbride's Battalion of Bucks Co. Militia and was marched on to Easton Pa. where he was stationed for a part of his tour as a guard over the public stores at Easton in Northampton Co. Pa. This applicant was also detached and sent with some other militia men to Allentown Pa. where he was stationed as a guard over the public stores at Allentown Pa. aforesaid. This applicant was afterwards from Allentown ordered on to the North side of the Schuylkill river and stationed along on that river to guard against an illicit intercourse between the country people and the British, and at the expiration of his tour he was verbally discharged. This was a term of three months and was served part of November and commencing on the 28 th day of November Anno Domini 1777. and on the 28 th day of February following 1778 the three months ended, comprising a full term of three months service in the militia of the County of Bucks Pa. That Col Geyer had command of the troops with whom he served for a part of said term of service. That one Benedict Grinch was in the ranks during the latter part of said tour. That this applicant served the above periods of time as a private soldier and he served in all his revolutionary services a term of nine months of actual and active under in the field and at the stations above detailed. And this declarant further declares that he does not at present certainly know whether any living witness can be procured by whom he can prove the above services or any part thereof, and that he was not any time engaged in any civil pursuit during the time he was in the service as above but was wholly devoted to the Army as above represented. The only evidence or testimony of his services that he knows of is the annexed affidavit of Valentine Heffner his companion in the Army
Interrogatories
First Where and in what year were you born?
Answer I was born in Northampton County in the State of Pennsylvania in the year 1760
Second Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer I have no record of my age. My father kept my age in his family Bible which I have

often seen and from that record I know my age
Third Where were you living when called into the service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer When called into the service I lived near Doylestown in the county of Bucks in the State of Pennsylvania and since the Revolutionary war I lived in Bucks county Pa. and in Northampton county Pa. and in Mifflin county Pa. and in Huntingdon county Pa. where I have lived for thirteen years past.
Fourth How were you called into the service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer I was drafted for the two periods of service as I have above stated.
Fifth State the names of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served such continental regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer General Armstrong, General Arnold, Col Patten, Col Kirkbride, Capt. John Lott  Major Lott Major Tolwell, were some of the officers that served with me and with the troops when I served during my two terms of service. I was during the greatest part of my first term stationed on the Delaware River and round about Germantown and Philadelphia, on the roads about White Marsh, also on the ridge road and at Skippack creek and at Perkiomen creek, and the second term was served at Easton and at Allentown Pa. as a guard of military stores, and I was also stationed on the west of the Schuylkill river as a sentinel or guard in the camp and field duty and Col Patten, Col Toose, Capt John Lott  Major Lott Major Tolwell were some of the militia officers who served with me. I was drafted out to serve as a drafted militiaman in the Bucks county militia Pa, and marched by order of my capt and other commanding officers to the Delaware river to make a stand against as was supposed the British Army invading the city of Phila. and on towards the Brandywine River and was stationed at the various places as above saying sentinel and detached.
Sixth Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it?
Answer I never received a written discharge but was at the expiration of each term verbally discharged.
Did you ever receive a commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it?
Answer I never received a commission in the revolutionary war, but I served the

two periods above mentioned as a private soldier making a revolutionary service of nine months as above mentioned.
seventh State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for truth and veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
Answer I will state James Johnson, John Dwope, Solomon Rowe, Jacob Hahn, Peter Fox, Valentin Hefner, Isaac Van der Ende Esquire, John Carr, Adam Hager, Jacob Groome, John Hoover.
Sworn and subscribed in open court
the day and year aforesaid
} John Geissinger
Robert Campbell P.W.
Relinquishment.
I John Geissinger the applicant for a pension do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and I declare that my name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn and subscribed in open court
the day and year aforesaid. } John Geissinger
We Adam Hager & Jacob M. Hahn
residing in the County of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Geissinger, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy six years of age. That he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution. That the belief of his having been a soldier as aforesaid is general and that no doubts have ever existed on the subject and that we fully concur in the general opinion.
Sworn and subscribed this 15 th day of July in 1857.
Isaac Van der Ende
Adam Hager
Jacob M. Hahn
John Geissinger

State of Pennsylvania } ss. Huntingdon County }
I do hereby certify that Adam Hagey & Jacob M c Gahan who have subscribed and sworn to the above certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. This 15 th day of July in 1837
Isaac Vanacander Minister
State of Pennsylvania } ss. Huntingdon County }
We Jonathan Fellers a clergyman residing in the County of Huntingdon in the State of Pennsylvania and Jacob M c Gahan residing in the County of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Beissenger who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy six years of age that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion sworn to and subscribed the 15 th day of July in 1837.
Isaac Vanacander
Jonathan Fellers Jacob M c Gahan
I do hereby certify that the Reverend Jonathan Fellers Jacob M c Gahan who have subscribed and sworn to the above certificate are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Given under my hand the 15 th day of July in 1837
Isaac Vanacander

State of Pennsylvania } ss. Huntingdon County }
I Valentine Heifer aged seventy eight years being duly sworn depose and say that I am personally acquainted with John Geissenger the applicant for a pension. That during the year 1777. I resided in the State of Pennsylvania and that I was myself in the Revolutionary army in the Pennsylvania militia and that during said time I became acquainted with several officers and soldiers of the Revolution. That I served in the Pennsylvania militia under the command of General Armstrong, General Arnold Col. Johnson and other field officers which I am unable by old age and the loss of memory to recollect but I recollect that the said John Geissenger served during the summer and fall of the Campaign of 1777 in which said Campaign was fought the Battle of Brandywine and Germantown. That I know the said John Geissenger was in the service part of during the above year of 1777 as a militiaman and that he was a part of his service during the said Campaign under the command of the said Generals. That the said John Geissenger belonged at this deponent believe to a Regiment of the Bucks County militia serving under the said Generals during part of said Campaign. That I was myself in the service at the most of the stations where the said John Geissenger was stationed on the Delaware River in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Germantown, on the Ridge Road & White Marsh. At these said places the said John Geissenger was serving at the time this deponent was in the service of the United States. but in consequence of old age, bodily infirmities and the consequent loss of memory I cannot positively state the precise length of the said John Geissenger did serve but from the best of my personal knowledge of his services and from the best of my recollection I do not hesitate to say that he served not less than six months during the year 1777 above mentioned as a private soldier in the militia of the State of Pennsylvania as above set forth in his declaration. Sworn and subscribed this 9 th day of August 1837.
William Moore
William Moore
State of Pennsylvania, Hunting County ss. I do hereby certify that Valentine Heifer who has subscribed and sworn to the above affidavit is a credible person and that his statements are entitled to full faith and credit. this 9 th day of August in 1837
William Moore

State of Pennsylvania } ss. Huntingdon County } ss.
I Isaac Vandervander a magistrate in and for the County of Huntingdon do hereby certify that the Reverend Jonathan Miller and Jacob McAdam did both at one and the same time subscribe and were duly sworn to their traditional Certificate before me the said Magistrate in the matter of the application of John Leiesenger and Adam Hager for a Pension - given under my hand and Seal this 12 th day of August 1837.
Isaac Vandervander

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the said Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jonathan Sellers Esquire who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania and that Jacob Van Devan who has also signed the same is a resident in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Joseph McGuire } Judges of the Geo. Adams } Court &c.
State of Pennsylvania } ss. Huntingdon County }
I Robert Campbell Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Weissenger for a pension. and the said Prothonotary do further certify that Isaac Van Devan Esquire who has subscribed the preceding certificate is an acting justice of the peace in and for the county of Huntingdon in the State of Pennsylvania and that William Moore who has also signed another preceding certificate and affidavit is an acting justice of the peace in and for the county of Huntingdon in the State of Pennsylvania. That the said Isaac Van Devan and William Moore Esquires are duly commissioned and duly qualified and that all their official acts are entitled to full faith and credit as well in Courts of justice as out thereof and that the signatures and seals thereunto affixed are their genuine signatures and seals.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this fourteenth day of August, Anno Domini 1837
Robert Campbell Proth

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Geissinger a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
only John Geissinger, Pa - Ref - 3969
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     May 17, 77 6 mos. Pri. Zephaniah Lott Kirkbride Pa.   Nov 28, 77 3 mos. Zephaniah Lott { Kirkbride Beyer                                            
Battles engaged in, _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Mifflin Co., Pa. near Doylstown _____ Date of application for pension, Aug. 14, 1837 _____ Residence at date of application, Walker Twp., Huntingdon Co., Pa. _____ Age at date of application, born in 1760 in Northampton Co., Pa. _____
Remarks: None allowed for the reason that claim failed to furnish  sat. proof of at least actual service as required by law.  No interest

1908 Apl. 6. Hist to L.S. Geisinger C.
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
REJECTED
P. O. _____
5969. John Geisinger
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

John Geispenger Pennsylvania
Rejected
See letter 31 st
August 27. I. B.
Geispenger Henszyes
lot 12 from 1838 N. & W. W. Ritter.
did not pay six months.
papers copied & sent to Michael Downey at Glen- burg.

3969

J. L. Edwards Esq. Sir
I have the Honor to enclose you three several applications for Pensions
Very respectfully your obedt Servt
William Polk
Hono of Aft. 11 th June 1838 -

Aug 31
W
George Hefner Nagel
Steel
Hon. J. L. Edwards,
Comm r of Pensions.
Washington City. D. C.

Huntingdon, Penna. August 26 th 1837
Hon. J. S. Edwards
Sir
The circular of the War Department dated Pension Office August 23 rd came duly to hand. Not being aware of the Regulations of the Department I hope to be excused for merely endorsing my name on the applications forwarded to the Department as an endorsement of the Agents name on the applications was deemed sufficient to obtain a report. Permit me now to state that I was employed by Messrs. Beissenger , Reifner , and Hager , to prepare their claims agreeably to the regulations of the War Department and to forward them to the Commissioner of Pensions and in fine to make use of every other proper means to obtain their claims. I was induced to do this believing their military services in the Revolutionary War to have been rendered as they have stated and their claims to be just. The applicants above named are worthy men and have always sustained a character for integrity truth and veracity, and I believe not a doubt exists among their neighbours respecting the justice of their claims. "The endorsement of the name of a person to whom the report is to be made is not deemed sufficient." These remarks in the margin of the Circular I apprehend imply that the Attorney for the applicant should inclose the application in a letter showing by whom it is sent. In compliance with this requisition I do again respectfully state that I was authorised to transmit their papers to the Department over which you preside and am fully commissioned to receive the result of your investigation.
I am respectfully yours.
Joseph P. Henszey.
Huntingdon, Huntingdon County Penna.

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Briefed by Hill
Claim No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant _____
Soldier John Heissinger
Service Pra
Additional Service Rev. War
No. _____ claim, State records _____, 190____
No claim, combination records _____, 190____
REMARKS:
No claim except Ref. 3969 no widow. April 1, 1908.

R. 3969.

Rox Huntingdon, Penna. March, 24 th 1908,
Com. of. Pensions;
My grandfather, John Leissinger, Jr., was born in Sancon Twp. Northampton Co. Pa. in 1770, His father's name was John Leissinger. In 17 1783, John Leissinger, Jr., served in the Revolutionary war, along with his father, although but 13 years of age. He acted in the capacity of a teamster. In 1800  1808 he married Hannah Sellers, of some township, and County, He died here in 1846, During his life, he received a Pension, and his widow, after his death, recd. a pension for several years, when it was suspended. She died here

in 1878, aged 95-yr. 6 mos. & 18 days. I do not know whether the record of his service is in the Dept. at Washington, or in Harrisburg, Pa., and I do not know where the record, of the Pension he and his widow recd., is in Washington or Harrisburg, and therefore, I address this letter to you, for the purpose of gaining the necessary information. If you have a record in the Dept. at Washington, I would be obliged for some,
Yours very truly L. S. Geissinger